Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
APOL 550 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
APOL 550
FAITH AND REASON
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to basic issues in the intersection between faith and reason. The course will
provide an introduction to the use of logic in apologetics and will consider key issues such as the
nature of God, the definition of faith, religious epistemology, the nature of man and the human
mind, and divine providence.
RATIONALE
Religious belief in general, and Christianity in particular, is often falsely accused of requiring a
blind leap of faith, the abandonment of reason and intellectual inquiry, and belief without
evidence. Genuine, biblical Christianity, however, acknowledges human nature as including a
robust rational, intellectual component, created by God and equipped for rational inquiry.
Christianity has been attacked as irrational and incoherent; therefore, Christian apologists must
be equipped to respond to these challenges by developing both a proper understanding of the
relationship between faith and reason, and a comprehensive defense against specific arguments
against Christianity.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
DeWeese, Garrett J., and J. P. Moreland. Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A
Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2005.
ISBN: 9780830827664.
Peterson, Michael, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger. Reason &
Religious Belief: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. 5th ed. New York:
Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN: 9780199946570.
Plantinga, Alvin. Knowledge and Christian Belief. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN:
9780802872043.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
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APOL 550 Course Syllabus
V.
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
VI.
A.
Articulate a definition of faith that is consistent with biblical teaching.
B.
Identify the distinctions in the different models of the relationship between faith
and reason.
C.
Apply the nature of intellectual inquiry to Christian theology and apologetics.
D.
Articulate the role of religious experience in acquiring knowledge about God and
the world.
E.
Assess the role that reason, science, and evidence plays in epistemological
justification and the acquisition of knowledge.
F.
Defend the coherence of the various elements of the Christian worldview.
G.
Apply the rational, intellectual life of the Christian to the spiritual life and
worship of God.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (4)
Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student
will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each
thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In
addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other
classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words. (MLO: B, C, D, F)
D.
Reason and Worship Essay
The student will write a 900–1500 word essay reflecting on the exercise of reason
as an act of worship. While limited use of outside sources is permitted, the student
must focus on the assigned course readings in Modules/Weeks 1 and 2, and
relevant Scripture passages of the student’s choosing. (MLO: A, C, G)
E.
Defining the Christian Faith Paper
The student will write a 1500–2100 word paper utilizing the course texts, the
Bible, and at least 6 academic sources, defining the meaning of faith. The
definition should include an examination of the biblical data concerning the
terminology of faith, the core beliefs which comprise the content of the faith
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APOL 550 Course Syllabus
distinguished from various secondary issues, and the way this definition connects
to the Christian life. (MLO: A, C, G)
F.
Faith and Reason Paper: Outline, Thesis, and Bibliography
Each student will submit a preliminary outline, thesis, and bibliography of 8–12
sources, in current Turabian formatting, for the Faith and Reason Paper. (MLO:
A, B, C, D, E, F)
G.
Faith and Reason Paper
Each student will write a paper that advances and defends a comprehensive
description of the proper relationship between faith and reason. The completed
paper must be 3000–3600 words, and include at least 10 high-quality, scholarly
sources (course textbooks and assigned scholarly articles may be used and do
count toward this total). (MLO: A, B, C, D, E, F).
H.
Quizzes (3)
Each quiz will cover the Reading & Study material for the assigned
modules/weeks. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 15 true/false,
multiple-choice, and short answer questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (MLO:
C, E)
VII.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums (4 at 75 pts ea)
Reason and Worship Essay
Defining the Christian Faith Paper
Faith and Reason Paper: Outline, Thesis, and Bibliography
Faith and Reason Paper
Quizzes (3 at 60 pts ea)
Total
B.
10
300
75
125
70
250
180
1010
Scale
A = 940–1010 A- = 920–939 B+ = 900–919 B = 860–899 B- = 840–859
C+ = 820–839 C = 780–819 C- = 760–779 D+ = 740–759 D = 700–739
D- = 680–699 F = 0–679
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
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APOL 550 Course Syllabus
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Style Guidelines
All assignments for this course are to be formatted in accordance with the LUSD
Writing Guide and the latest edition of the Turabian style manual (A Manual for
Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations). Discussion assignments
and essay examinations may use the parenthetical citation style. All other written
assignments should use the footnote citation style. Supplemental writing aids are
available via the Online Writing Center.
E.
Extra Credit
No additional “for credit” assignments will be permitted beyond those given in the
course requirements stated above.
F.
Course Changes
Course requirements are subject to change by the administration of the University
at any time with appropriate notice.
G.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
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APOL 550 Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
APOL 550
Textbooks: Moreland, Love God with All Your Mind (2012).
Moreland & Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview (2003).
Wilkins, Faith and Reason: Three Views (2014).
Wolterstorff, Reason Within the Bounds of Religion (1988).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Moreland: chs. 1–3
Moreland & Craig: preface–ch. 1
1 presentation
2
Moreland: chs. 4–5
Moreland & Craig: ch. 2
Wolterstorff: chs. 1–2
1 presentation
3
Moreland & Craig: chs. 3–7
Wolterstorff: chs. 3–9
1 presentation
4
Wolterstorff: chs. 10–22
4 presentation
3 websites
5
Moreland & Craig: chs. 15–17
2 presentations
1 website
6
Wilkins: intro–part 2
1 presentation
7
Wilkins: part 3, conclusion
1 presentation
8
Moreland & Craig: chs. 8–10, 19,
23–26
1 presentation
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
DB Forum 1
10
0
75
Reason and Worship Essay
Quiz 1
75
60
DB Forum 2
Quiz 2
75
60
Defining the Christian Faith Paper
125
DB Forum 3
Quiz 3
75
60
Faith and Reason Paper: Outline,
Thesis, and Bibliography
70
DB Forum 4
75
Faith and Reason Paper
250
TOTAL
1010
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on
Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
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